Kobe Bryant, You're No Michael Jordan

Championships 2000-2002: Sure, Kobe was the second-best player on that team. But, sure, you could trade him for Manu Ginobili and Shaq still wins his first three titles.

2003: The best TEAM of the decade (San Antonio) shows the selfish Lakers how to win together, not as two individuals (that's right, Kobe: you're no Jordan). This playoff loss signaled the beginning of the end for what could have been a Celtic-like run for the Lakers. Who was going to beat Shaq in his prime and an improving Kobe in the Finals?

The answer? Kobe, of course.

Unable to accept the role as second option, Kobe starts the early grumblings...

2004: The Lakers bring in Karl Malone and Gary Payton. I thought they could go undefeated. They do not but settle for making it to the Finals.

In the Finals, Kobe believes he is Jordan again, looking to win by himself while forcing ridiculous shot after wannabe-Jordan-ridiculous shot. Again, Kobe, you're no Jordan.

2005: There you go, bud. All yours. Now what?

2006: Shaq's a winner, allowing D-Wade to carry the Heat to the 'Ship. Should have been a repeat as Wade was hurt in '05 conference Finals vs. Detroit- but no excuses. Point is: Kobe, you're no Jordan.

2008: Up by 20+ points in the second half at home, lose to the Celtics to drop to 1-3 in series. GOAT doesn't let that happen to his team in the Finals. Can anyone imagine Jordan choking like that in the championship series? I didn't think so.

2009: Congrats. Kobe silences some doubters, but this by no way means he is "the best-ever, GOAT, better than Jordan." No, this just means that he has as many Finals MVPs as Dwyane Wade.

Comparing Kobe to Jordan is fair, considering Kobe plays the same position, can score the ball rather easily, and the fact that he not only patterned his whole game after MJ, but his whole life.

Calling Kobe the GOAT, or as good or better than Jordan, is blasphemous. Jordan made his players better (Pippen may be the second most over-rated player ever, right after Kobe) and absolutely dominated the playoffs, especially in crunch time. Kobe's game shrinks when the fourth quarter comes around.

The LAKERS won that title last season, not Kobe. Derek Fisher should have been MVP after hitting that three-pointer in game four.

Kobe and Artest on the same team is very cool, if you're a fan of the NBA. But that circus tent is gonna fold before the clowns can paint their face.

Only one player could control his team while leading them time and time again to the ultimate goal. Should have been an eight-peat, but two three-peats is sexier.